Word game apparatus

ABSTRACT

A word game for 2 to 4 players. It is provided with a game board (having 6 windows and standing upright), 4 block trays and 5 sets of alphabet blocks. Each set consists of the 26 letters of the alphabet, 1 extra set of vowels and 5 blanks. Players try to make words by inserting blocks into the windows at the top of the board. When a block is inserted into a window which already contains a block the replaced block drops down and slides out the side of the board. There are two complete sets of rules-one for children age 8 to 12 and one for adults.

Unite States tent Estes Mar. 18, 1975 WORD GAME APPARATUS [76] Inventor: Ardie Victor Estes, 4305 Kinglet, g i

Houston, Tex 77035 Assistant E.\am1ner osep ay or [22] Filed: Jan. 21, 1974 [57] ABSTRACT [21] Appl. No.: 434,852

A word game for 2 to 4 players. lt 1s provlded with a game board (having 6 windows and standing upright), [52] U.S. Cl 273/135 1), 35/73, 35/35 H 4 block trays and 5 Sets of alphabet blocks Each Set [51 llit. Cl. A631 3/00 Consists of the 2 letters of the alphabet, 1 extra Set of [58] held of Search 35/31 35 35 11 73; vowels and 5 blanks. Players try to make words by in- 273/130 130 130 131 B1 131 134 serting blocks into the windows at the top of the 134 G 135 135 135 136 board. When a block is inserted into a window which 136 E1 136 W1 K; 40/106-l already contains a block the replaced block drops down and slides out the side of the board. There are [56] References Cted two complete sets of rules-one for children age 8 to UNITED STATES PATENTS l2 and one for adults.

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P {MED HR 1 8 I975 FIGURE 1 FIGURE 3 FIGURE 2 I8 Nun- FIGURE 5 FIGURE 6 FIGURE 4 WORD GAME APPARATUS SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION SPELL-A-BOUT relates to a new and most interesting word game provided with a game board and five sets of blocks or tiles which are all used in a unique means of scoring.

At the beginning of play each player makes a mystery word which he keeps concealed from other players at all times. The challenge to you as a player is to duplicate your mystery word in the game board. Players try to make words by inserting blocks into the windows of the board. Once the first word has been made, a players turn consists of trying to change the current game board word to a new word by inserting letters or blanks into the windows of the board. A player will score 5 points for each letter inserted into the game board.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF VIEWS OF THE DRAWING Included in the drawing is a top view of the game board (FIG. I), a front view of the game board (FIG. 2), a side view of the game board (FIG. 3), a top view of a block tray (FIG. 4), a front view of a letter block (FIG. 5), and a side view ofa letter block (FIG. 6).

The drawing is scaled to exactly one-half the size of the model.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION SPELL-A-BOUT is a word game for two to four players. Contents of the game are as follows: one game board, four block trays, five sets of blocks (each set is marked with a different color and is made up of: one complete alphabet set-26 letters, one extra vowel set-five letters, five blank blocks. Total36 blocks per set.).

The working model is made almost entirely of wood. However, manufacture on a large scale may make it more economical to construct the invention of plastic, nylon, or some similar synthetic material. Attached as a part of this application is a drawing scaled to exactly one-half the size of the model as it now appears. Included in the drawing is a top view of the game board (FIG. I), a front view of the game board (FIG. 2), a side view of the game board (FIG. 3), a top view of a block tray (FIG. 4), a front view ofa letter block or tile bearing the letter Q (FIG. 5), and a side view ofa letter block (FIG. 6).

Included in this description is a detailed explanation of how to play the game in the form of game rules. Hence at this point it is sufficient to explain the mechanics involved in the use and function of the game board. First of all IIl say that thenovel aspects of the game board itself add movement as well as excitement to the game. The several adults as well as grade schoolers who played the game as the rules were being developed and tested were most intrigued by the operation of the game board. The game board stands upright on the base (point A in the drawing). There are 6 windows (point B) in the front of the board. Each of these windows has a small (3/l6 l inch) opening (point C) in the topof the game board. It is through these openings that the letter blocks as shown in FIG. 5 are inserted.

There are finger slots (point D) for convenience in pushing the block down to the top of the window. Fastened behind each window is a flat metal spring (point E). The purpose of these springs is to hold the blocks firmly against the front of the window. Between adjacent windows is a 3/32 inch strip (point H). These strips, together with the front and sides of the game board, form a pluralityof topless and bottomless channels in the upper interior thereof each of said channels being positioned centrally behind one of the windows B and being adapted to slidably receive any of the lettered tiles shown in FIG. 5. Thus each respective channel and spring cooperate to provide a means whereby any of the tiles may be independently retained, for purposes of display, behind the corresponding window. When a block is inserted into a window which already contains a block, it pushes the contained-block thru the channel, below the end of the spring, and out of engagement therewith and, because the channel containing said block has no bottom, the replaced block falls to the slanted strip (point F) and slides out the opening in the side of the board (point G). Thus it can be seen that the topless and bottomless channel behind each window and the retaining spring associated therewith, because of the unique manner in which they cooperate to firmly but slidably retain a tile, together comprise a separate replacement means associated with each display window whereby a first tile may be used to cause ejection of said first block while itself being readily and simultaneously displayed behind the same said window. Furthermore, it will be appreciated that each of said replacement means, there being one for each window and thus one for each retaining and display means, may be operated independently of any and all of said other and identical means associated with the other windows and that any tile retained behind any of the windows may be replaced by any other tile without affecting the condition of any tile which may simultaneously be retained behind any of the other windows. The letter trays (FIG. 4 shows one) simply serve as containers for player blocks-one tray per player, one set of blocks per tray. Each letter block is l /2Xl /2X% inch in size with either a letter of the alphabet on one side or blank on both sides.

Following are grade school rules for playing SPELL- A-BOUT (probable age, 8-12 years):

CONTENTS:

one game board,-four block trays, five sets of blocks (each set marked with a different color and each set made up of the following: one complete alphabet set-26 letters, one extra vowel set-five letters, blank blocks-five. Total-36 blocks per set.).

TO SET UP PLAY:

Each player selects one set of blocks contained in one block tray. Check your tray and make sure your letters are in alphabetical order. This will make the game move faster and smoother for you. Form a kitty with one complete set of blocks spread out face down in the lid of the box in which the game was packaged. TO BEGIN:

To determine which player will start the game each player will draw a block from the kitty. The player with the letter closest to the beginning of the alphabet plays first. If a blank is drawn draw again. When the first player is determined return blocks to kitty and shuffle. TO PLAY:

The first player makes a word from the letters in his tray and inserts it into the game board. The length of the first word made is limited to three letters. The next player trys to make a new word, using the letters in his tray, by inserting letters or blanks into the windows of the board. A player may place the first letter of his word in any window of the game board as long as he allows enough windows to complete the word.

After a word is made the player making the word draws a block from the kitty and places it on the table face upin front of his tray. He may then use the blocks in his tray as well as the blocks on the table in front of his tray for making words. If a player cannot make a word he passes play to the next player. Play passes to the left.

Any word inserted into the game board may be challenged. Use a dictionary to determine whether or not the word is acceptable. If the challenged word is unacceptable, the player takes back his blocks, the original word is returned to the game board and the player loses his turn. Do not use proper names, hyphenated words, apostrophes, foreign words, or abbreviations. Do not replace a letter by the same letter.

TO SCORE:

A player will score five points for each letter inserted into the game board. Score for inserting a blank is Zero. The first player to reach 100 points wins the game.

Following are adult rules for playing SPELL-A- BOUT, a word game for two to four players: CONTENTS:

One game board, four block trays, five sets of blocks (each set marked with a different color and each set made up of the following: one complete alphabet set-26 letters, one extra vowel set-five letters, blank blocksfive. Total-36 blocks per set.).

TO SET UP A ROUND OF PLAY:

Each player selects one set of blocks contained in one block tray. Check your tray and make sure your letters are in alphabetical order. This will make the game move faster and smoother for you. Form a kitty with one complete set of blocks spread out face down in the lid of the box in which the game was packaged. TO BEGIN:

Each player makes a secret word from his set of blocks. He must use a total of six blocks to make this word, at least four of which must be letters. If blanks are used they must come before and/or after the word made. Place these six blocks face down behind your block tray. Keep this word concealed from the other players at all times. It will be referred to as your MYS- TERY word. To determine which player will begin the game each player will draw a block from the kitty. The player with the letter closest to the beginning of the alphabet plays first. If a blank is drawn, draw again. When the first player is determined return'blocks to kitty and shuffle.

TO PLAY:

Each player beginning with the first chooses a letter from his tray and places it on the table face up in front of his tray. Play passes to the left. When the last player has put a letter on the table he trys to make a word using some or all of the letters exposed on the table. NOTE:

The length of the first word made must be at least as long (in letters) as the number of players playing.

lf after everyone has placed one letter on the table the last player cannot make a word, play passes to the first player again. He puts another letter from his tray down on the table and trys to make a word using some or all of the letters exposed on the table. If he cant make a word play passes to the next player. This sequence continues until a player can make a word from the letters exposed on the table. When this is accomplished, he. inserts his word into the game board. Player making first word does not draw a block from the kitty. NOTE:

A player may place the first letter of his word in any window of the game board as long as he allows enough windows to complete the word.

Once the first word has been made, a players turn will consist of trying to change the current game board word to a new word by inserting letters or blanks into the windows of the board. He may use only the blocks in his tray or the blocks face up in front of his tray. NOTE:

The maximum number of blocks that may be inserted into the board during any one turn is three. Every time a new word is made that player making it draws one block from the kitty and puts it face up on the table in front of his tray.

TERY word and you catch it you still score 50 points and the round ends. Points for that round are tallied up and a new round begins. If the kitty is depleted before a MYSTERY word is duplicated, the game continues in the same manner except there will of course be no drawing from the kitty after a word is made. The round ends when no word can be made by any player. Points for that round of play are then tallied up, MYSTERY words are revealed and a new round begins.

If it is desired to play partnerships, the same rules apply with one exception. In making new words a player may use blocks in his tray and in front of his tray as well as blocks in front of his partners tray.

Any word inserted into the game board may be challenged. Use a dictionary to determine whether or not the word is acceptable. If the challenged word is unacceptable the player takes back his blocks, the original word is returned to the board and the player loses his turn.

DO NOT:

a. Use proper names, hyphenated words, apostrophes, foreign words, or abbreviations.

b. Replace a letter by the same letter.

c. Repeat aword until every player has had a turn after the word was made.

TO SCORE:

A player will score five points for each letter inserted into the game board. Score for inserting a blank is zero. The first player to score 300 points wins the game.

I claim:

1. A recreational and educational game apparatus comprising:

a plural set of congruent, indicia bearing tiles,

a retaining rack adapted to display the elements of a plural subset of said set of tiles in an ordered array wherein said elements may be so disposed as to have the sequence of their respective indicia convey information,

a plurality of first identical and independently operable retaining and display means each capable of releasably and replacably receiving a single element of said set of said tiles whereby a plurality of said tiles, when simultaneously received by said first means may define said array.

3. Game apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said first means includes a surface for frictional engagement of a portion of an indicia bearing surface of any of said tiles when said tile is retained by said first means, and means biasing said two surfaces in contact whereby the friction therebetween causes said tile to be retained in position in said array.

4. Game apparatus as in claim 3 wherein said array is located above said collection means which utilizes the gravitational descent of said ejected tiles in the accumulation of said ejected tiles. 

1. A recreational and educational game apparatus comprising: a plural set of congruent, indicia bearing tiles, a retaining rack adapted to display the elements of a plural subset of said set of tiles in an ordered array wherein said elements may be so disposed as to have the sequence of their respective indicia convey information, a plurality of first identical and independently operable retaining and display means each capable of releasably and replacably receiving a single element of said set of said tiles whereby a plurality of said tiles, when simultaneously received by said first means may define said array. independently operable replacement means associated with each of said first means whereby operational engagement of a second said tile with any of said first means which already contains a first tile causes ejection of only said first tile from said array and retention of said second tile by said first means thereby effecting replacement of said first tile by said second tile.
 2. Game apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising collection means for accumulating any and all of said tiles upon ejection thereof by the action of said replacement means.
 3. Game apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said first means includes a surface for frictional engagement of a portion of an indicia bearing surface of any of said tiles when said tile is retained by said first means, and means biasing said two surfaces in contact whereby the friction therebetween causes said tile to be retained in position in said array.
 4. Game apparatus as in claim 3 wherein said array is located above said collection means which utilizes the gravitational descent of said ejected tiles in the accumulation of said ejected tiles. 